Walking Poles

Looking to get myself a pair of poles to take the pressure off my knees as I've just had a knee op.

Up until know I've got by using my Mountain King Trailblase as they are fantastically light 230g, easily stowed and they were really only taken out for river crossings.

Now that I have to take a bit more care of my knees I know I need something sturdier but still want them to be lightweight. I've tried Pacer Poles but they irritate my wrists.

From having a quick squint as to what's around I'm tending towards the Black Diamond ones for the flick lock or another pair of Mountain King but the Super Treker Compact.

Anyone got an pros & cons or other suggestions?

something aluminium as opposed to carbon (and definitelty not heavy steel!) - feel nicer in my limited experience and less likely to break catastrophically.

I like my Lekis  (ultralights - old model) - I rarely collapse them as I either use them  or don't take them - they mostly just get adjusted when used as tent poles. Inever adjust them in use as haven't found it necessary even on steep ground.

When mine die I might try BDs or Fizan ultralights

so my advise - go for light but strong - the BD compact type that Posh Totty has seemed pretty good.

As someone who has also had leg surgery, Black Diamond flick locks.

You don't want to take any chances. My lighter poles have been binned just now.

Ta for that feedback

Off to the Black Diamond site to see what the difference is between the hundreds of poles they do

Au contraire...and a lot like Mole..

BD Flicklock is great; but their poles are very rigid with no spriiiing...

If you want a resilient pole with 'boing' features get some Leki Makalu Titanium (they have no ti in them alas).

I have BDs, I have Mountain King Trail Blaze - I am thinking of Fizans for weight conscious backpacks...

...and..you take your poles out of the car/train/plane at the start of a walk and sort them.....then collapse them when back...so flicklocks are good; but, I never adjust my poles once they are set......soooooo...

..the Leki's are the best; by very far.

Matt and MoS can attest to how hard I use them.

Hey TBW, I really rate BD for the flicklocks and trust them as ski touring poles.....  but....

I highly recommend you get yourself over to the UltralightOutdoorGear website and have a look at the Fizan Ultralight Compacts - very good, strong, amazingly light for a proper alloy pole, good value, good locking mechanism, spares available e.g. powder baskets etc.

I got some last year and either MoS or I used them right through last winter - they were totally reliable. They pack down fairly well for stowing too.

I heard about them initially from ptc* - he got given a test pair with his name on, lucky bugger, I had to buy mine! Search his blog and you'll find a review and comments somewhere....

I agree that antishock is a waste of time and adds weight and is something else to go wrong.

I can attest that ed really hammers his pole. I believe MoS looked away!

Mine have 2 positions - antishock or not.  even when antishock was switched off they had a 3mm travel which I found immensely annoying - so I took them apart and superglued a 3mm piece of metal rod in the mechanism to make them rock solid.  Much better. 

Don't understand the need for it. Just reduces thrust when propelling, and sensitivity when descending.

Ta for all that info

No antishock and its down to the Black Diamond and Fizan - I shall sleep on it

What Good Friday Girl and ed h said.

Unless, of course, BD and Pacerpoles are mated! Their offspring would rule the World and all the Universe.  .....................................................................................................................................imho

Nodrog wrote (see)

What Good Friday Girl and ed h said.

  one of each?

Good Friday Girl wrote (see)

Black Diamond all the way-

ed h wrote (see)

..the Leki's are the best; by very far.

Don't understand the need for [anti-shock].

It's a marketing blurb bullet point.